IMAGE MAGNIFYING APPARATUS
Disclosed herein is an image magnifying apparatus which automatically brings a target into focus using a diopter lens depending on whether the target is at a short distance or at a long distance. The orientation of a camera and short- or long-distance focusing of a camera lens can be automatically controlled to provide a clear image to a user, whereby even a user with low vision, a blind user, an aged user, a hand tremor user, etc. can easily use the apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention provides lighting suitable for user environment, thus providing a clear image to the user.
1 . An image magnifying apparatus, comprising:
an image capturing unit provided with an image capturing device to capture an image of a target;
a support unit coupled at a first end thereof to the image capturing unit;
a base coupled to a second end of the support unit; and
an output displaying unit an image captured by the image capturing device,
wherein, on the assumption that a longitudinal direction of the base is designated as a first direction and a lateral direction of the base perpendicular to the first direction is designated as a second direction, the image magnifying apparatus further comprises: a first drive unit installed on the support unit, the first drive unit rotating the image capturing unit with respect to the first direction; and a second drive unit installed in the image capturing unit, the second drive unit rotating the image capturing unit with respect to the second direction.
2 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the image capturing unit comprises:
a second lens installed on the image capturing unit so as to be rotatable such that the second lens can be disposed ahead of a first lens of the image capturing device, or removed from the first lens so that the image capturing unit can capture the image of the target that is positioned at a short distance or at a long distance; and
a third drive unit rotating the second lens.
3 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a fixed shaft protrudes from the first end of the support unit, with a first gear provided around a circumferential outer surface of the fixed shaft,
the first drive unit comprises: a first housing having a coupling hole into which the fixed shaft is inserted; an insert rod protruding upwards from an upper surface of the first housing, with a second gear provided around on a circumferential outer surface of the insert rod; and a first motor installed in the first housing and connected to a third gear engaging with the first gear of the fixed shaft, the first motor rotating the third gear such that the first housing is rotated around the fixed shaft, and
the second drive unit comprises: a second housing in which the image capturing device is installed, the second housing being rotatably coupled to the insert rod; and a second motor installed in the second housing and connected to a fourth gear engaging with the second gear, the second motor rotating the fourth gear such that the second housing is rotated around the insert rod.
4 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the third drive unit comprises a third motor installed in the image capturing unit, the third motor rotating the second lens.
5 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the third drive unit comprises:
a rotating rod rotatably installed in the image capturing unit, the rotating rod being provided at a first end thereof with the second lens and provided at a second end thereof with the first link plate;
a third motor connected to a second link plate to rotate the second link plate; and
a connection link connecting the second link plate to the first link plate so that the first link plate is rotated in a direction in which the second link plate is rotated.
6 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the insert rod is open on both ends thereof and has a hollow structure so that an internal space of the second housing connects with an internal space of the first housing, and
the support unit has a hollow structure, and the fixed shaft is open on both ends thereof and has a hollow structure so that an internal space of the support unit connects with an internal space of the first housing.
7 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the image capturing unit comprises:
an illuminance sensor provided ahead of the image capturing device to sense brightness of a periphery of the image capturing unit; and
a lighting device emitting light onto the target depending on the brightness sensed by the illuminance sensor.
8 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising
a control unit controlling the first drive unit, the second drive unit and the third drive unit in a wired or wireless manner.
9 . The image magnifying apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the image capturing device is disposed at a position spaced apart from the insert rod and the fixed shaft by a predetermined distance.